Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen reiterated Beijing’s strong commitment to facilitating the repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar, stressing that China has never been a bystander in addressing the crisis.
Speaking at Thematic Session 3 of the three-day international conference “Stakeholders’ Dialogue: Takeaways to the High-Level Conference on Rohingya Situation” in Cox’s Bazar, Yao thanked the Bangladesh government for hosting the dialogue and acknowledged Dhaka’s extraordinary humanitarian sacrifices in sheltering more than 1.3 million displaced people from Rakhine state.
“The displaced people from Rakhine state have increasingly become a heavy burden on Bangladesh’s social stability and economic development, severely affecting Bangladesh-Myanmar relations and regional peace,” Yao said. He noted that the international community must commend Bangladesh’s efforts while increasing support.
Reiterating China’s position, the envoy said repatriation remains the only sustainable solution. “Both Bangladesh and Myanmar uphold repatriation, while some stakeholders oppose it. A broad consensus must be built, and all parties should work toward achieving repatriation,” he stressed.
Yao underlined that any repatriation plan must be negotiated directly between Bangladesh and Myanmar. “The international community should respect and recognize their decisions, support them to strengthen trust, and resolve differences,” he added.
Calling for an immediate ceasefire in Rakhine state, he said the ongoing conflict has stalled repatriation efforts, despite China’s mediation in peace talks between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army.
The ambassador warned that global attention on the crisis is waning as new conflicts emerge, while aid to Rohingya camps in Bangladesh continues to shrink. “Living conditions for displaced persons are dire. Relevant countries and international organizations must fulfil their aid commitments to prevent a more severe humanitarian crisis,” he urged.
Referring to China’s past efforts, Yao said Beijing had convened a trilateral vice-ministerial meeting in April 2023 and hosted four rounds of the trilateral working group, reaching the QMIN consensus on repatriation. However, plans to return 5,000–6,000 Rohingyas by the end of 2023 were suspended due to renewed conflict and differing stakeholder views.
He also outlined China’s humanitarian contributions, including a $1.5 million hygiene kit project with UNHCR for over 100,000 women and a $2 million food assistance programme with the World Food Programme. Consultations with other UN agencies are ongoing, he added.
“Resolving this issue requires ending hostilities, sticking to repatriation, and ensuring Bangladesh-Myanmar consensus with international support. China stands ready to continue providing assistance to promote dialogue and advance repatriation,” Yao concluded.
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